Electric switch



May 2l, 1929. B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Sept. 22, 1927 INVENTOR t hell,

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May 21, 1929 B. E. caETcl-ILI.v 1,714,086

v ELECTRIC SWITCH Original F1ed`Sept. 22, 1927 3 Sheets-Sleet 2 nlli H :EL

'Bely'amin E'.

May 21, 1929. B. E. GETCHELL 1,714,086

ELECTRIC vSWITCH Original Filed Sept-22, 192,7 3 Sheets-.Sheet 3 HHHHH INVENTOR Patented May 2l, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- BEJAMIN E. GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 THE TRUI- BULL ELECTRIC KAN'UFAGTURINGCOMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION 'or coNNEQ'rIcUr.

ELECTRIC, SWITCH.

original appunti@ inea september 22, 1927, serial No. 221,215. Divided and this application ined :Decemberv 27, 1927.

Myinvention relates particularly to the general switch construction and the methodl of mounting 'and insulating the conducting parts.

This is a division from my application #221,215 filed September 22,1927.

vOne object of my invention is to provide an extremely compact and eiicient double break switch of the remote control type.

' Anotherobject is to provide a double breakswitch of the magneticallycontrolled type in which the circuit is carried through the switch without the necessity of flexible leads.

Another object isjto providea double break switch having movable spring contacts which simultaneously engage the corresponding stationarycontacts with an angular or wiping Another object is to provide a double break switch having a movable contact member for simultaneously engaging its corresponding stationary contacts and in which the respective contact ends are flexible with respect to each other and independently self-adjustable with respect to the stationary contacts.

Another object is to provide a remote control-switch in which all of the line and load wire connecting means are positioned on one level on the base and all of the remote control wire connecting means are positioned on another level in order to facilitate wiring or to identify the circuits.

Another object is to provide an electric switch having a slotted base and a series of pairs of stationary contacts together with a movable insulating contact-carrying bar positioned between the respective pairs of stationary contacts and having insulating ilanges cov operating with the slots in the base to electrically separate the respective pairs of stationary contacts as well as the respective movable contacts.-

Another object is to provide an electric switch construction including a molded insulating bar having insulating barriers and- Serial No. 242,559.

having contact positioning-studs and move-- ment guidingplates molded in the material of the bar to form a unit.

Another object is to provide an insulating bar ofthe preceding description and having an independent circuit connecting strip molded in the material of the bar.

Another object is to provide a unitary car- Irier for all the movable contacts of a remotecontrol switch.

The accompanying three sheet-s of 'drawings illustrate one form of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view, fthe relays being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side View, a relay such as shown in -my-former patents being shown separate. Fig. 3 is a diagramatic view'of the circuits. Fig. et is a side view and vertical section, the switch vbeing shown closed. A Fig. 5 is a similar view open, Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one set of main switch contacts.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the auxiliary switch contacts.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section looking upwardly` 4 Fig. 9 is a rear View.v The base or body 15 may be formed of' insulating material, such as molded composition. In the form shown the side plates 116 and 17 are of metal and provided with iianges which are secured to the base by screws, such as 18 and 19. The back plate 20 may be secured to the side plates by screws such as 21. This particular form of back plate is adapted for convenient attachment toa back board or in a switch Abox (not shown). For convenience this back plate 20 is provided with a keyhole slot 22 at thetop by means of which it may be conveniently hung on a screw (not shown). The lower cornersof this plate 2O .are provided with notches 23 and 24 which open toward one side and toward the bottom for convenience in mounting the plate under the heads of screws ing box.

The line terminals (not shown) in an enclos- 25,26 and 27'aremounted on the front face of the base along its lower edge of the base. Theterminals 31, 32 and 33 adapted to be connected to a control station or switch are mountedr along the upper edge of the base at its rear. The load may be, for instance, a motor (not shown) The switch has three circuit controlling units in the particular form shown.y The left hand unit has .stationary contacts 35and 36 and a movable switch membercomposed of contact members 37 and 38 connected together by a flexible strip 39 which .may be formed of thinY laminations so that the two contactmembers 37 and 38 are free to tilt and rock so as to assure perfect contact with the raised portions 40 and 41 of the stationary contacts.

The back plate 42' has its`ends oli'set from the plane/of its central portion 43 vand is .pro-

l vided with small bosses44 adapted to rest against the backof the connecting strip 39 so as to permit relative tilting of the contact pieces 37 and 38. The movable contact parts just described and the corresponding movable A contacts for the other switch units are all carried by the insulating member 45 which eX- tends across the base of the switch in the form of a cross bar. This cross bar has set in it a flat stud 46, the end of which extends through i slots 47 and 48 and supports'a spring 49 and a cup-like washer 50. This washer has a central slot 51 to `permit it to be slipped on to the end of the stud 46. It also has notches 52 adapted to receive the ends of the T-shaped head of the stud when the washer l .is rotated through 90 degrees. In this way the contact 36 issecured to the clip 55 for the relay 56. The lower clip 57' for the relay is electrically and mechanically connected to the lower terminal 25 by screw 58 which may be seated in a suitable insert in the base in any suitable manner. The intermediate clip l59 for the relay. is similarly secured to the ase. The right hand switch unit i's'constructed.

i in the same manner asthe one previously deby astrip 73.

scribed and has stationary contacts 60 and 61 and al movable contact 62. Relay clips 63, 64 arldl for the relay 66 are similarlymounted to t ose previously described. .The central swit unit 'also has stationary contacts 70 and 71 and a movable contact72.- This unit, however, requires no relay and hence the contact 71 is connected directly tothe terminal 26 lT e carrier bar-45 is provided with insulatl Ving flanges 75 and 76 on opposite sides of the central switch unitto serve as barriers between 'the switch members o f the respective units. The base 15 is provided with a' transverse groove 77 to receive the cross bar 45 which also serves as a 4barrier*between the contacts of each respectlve palr of the stationary contacts. The base is also groovcd at 7 8 and 79 to receive the ends of the flanges 75 and 76, respectively. The opposite ends of the switch carrier 45 are provided with projected to the control switch terminal 31 andthe 1 other terminal of the coil is connected to the 56. The control switch terminal 33 is connectedV by wire 91 to the intermediate clip64 for the right hand rela 66. The core of the magnet is preferablyv aminated in the customary manner and secured to laterally extending cross bars 92 which are slidably supported in the side plates 16 and 17. The magnet core frame is mounted so that it may move vertically, in the slots 93 a limited amount. The armature 94 may also be laminated and movable vertically with respect to the magnet coil'andy core. The armature is connected to the insulating cross bar o r contact carrier 45 by va link motionwhich is supported by the side plates 16 and 17,

Lever plates 95 and' 96 of substantially bell crank .formi are pivoted to the side plates 17 and 16 respectively, and connected to the l lugs 8O and 81 of the insulating cross bar by links 97 and 98. '.Extendingfrom these levers 95 and 96 are connecting rods 99 and 100, the lower ends of' which are connected to the ends of the cross bar 101 which carries the armature 94. The connecting rods and'links 99 andlOO may be guided between lugs or proj ections 102 and 103 formedin the side plates 16 and 17.

When the magnet is energized it lifts thearmature 94 and, through *he medium of the- -connecting links 99 and 100, tilts the lever plates 95 and 96, and thus through the pull of the links 97 and- 98 draws'the contact cartrical connection. As the .contact carrier 45 is drawn backward -Aand upward toward the base, the springs 49 are compressed, thus insuring an even pressure between the contacts and affording a yielding engagement which prevents shock to the parts of the switch. As the cross piece l engages the resilient contacts 86 and 87 additional resiliency is provided. to bringthe parts to rest without shock. In the form shown the electromagnet is vertically movable being guided in the slots 93 which are sufiiciently elongated at their upper ends so that even the inertia of the moving armature cannot apply a direct blow on the stationary parts of the mechanism.

-Tlie control switch may be 'of any suitable construction. One form is illustrated diagrammatically in order to facilitate a complete understanding of the method of operation of the invention. In this form the control switch has stationary contacts 105, 106 and 107 and movable switch members 108 and 109 which are spring pressed in any suitable manner. Normally the switch member 108 connects the contacts and 106 and the switch member 109 is normally out of contact'. The contact 105 is connected to the ter` minal 31. The contact 106 is connected to the terminal 32 and contact 107 is connected to the terminal 33.

The relay preferably employed in th switch has endcaps 110 and 111 adapted respectively to the upper and lower relay clips, and a central external contact 112 connected to the intermediate relay clip. The end caps are connected together by a heating element 113 arranged along side of a bi-metallic spring arm 114 whose end normally engages part of the contact 112.V

The operation of the switch and the resultant circuits are as follows: Let us consider Fig. 3 as showing the circuit in the oit position. The opening andclosing of the switch is accomplished by the circuits which control the magnet. To close the switch the operator presses the button carried by the contact 109 when the circuit will be as follows: Line terminal 25 to elements 111, 114, 112 (of `relay 56) coil 90, 31, 105, 108,' 106,

109, 107, sa, 91, 112 (of relay 66) 114, 111 t0,

terminal 27.

The above operation has energized the magnet which operates to close the switch and, in this osition,'a holding circuit is established by tli) 87 by the connector 85, so that the starting button may be releasedwithout interrupting the magnet circuit. The circuit is now as follows: Terminal 25,to elements 111, 114, 112, con 9o, 31, 105, 108, 106, 32, 86, 85, 87, 33, 91, 112, 114, 111 to terminal 27. The switch is now automatically held in closed position by the magnet and, normally, can

. only be opened by interrupt-ing or reducing the strength of the current in thecoil current.

Normally the circuit may be opened by pressing the button attached'tol contact 108,

e connecting of contacts 86 andV which, of course, breaks the running circuit througli the magnet coil and allows the armature to drop and open the switch.

Incase oi overload the magnet circuit will automatically be opened between 112 and 114 of one or both of the relays. In case of failure of line voltage or abnormal dr'op of liiie voltage, the magnet will become weakcned and unable to hold the armature against gravity and the force of the springs and the armature will drop away from the magnet thus opening the load and magnet switches. -After the switch is once opened, it cannot ,normally be closed again except by inanually pressing the button carried by contact/ 108. This feature is of great value in that it protects the operator against the unexpected starting ot' the motor or other dcvice after it has once been stopped.

Although I have described the preferred form of the complete apparatus and its method ot operation, it should be understood that some of the features herein set forth may be employed independently of others, and are applicable to other types of switches, so also it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the use otthe particular thermostatic relay herein set forth. Itvshould also be understood that although I have described the invention as particularly applicable to control from a remote point, certain features may be-employed without such limitations, for instance, in some cases the control buttons may be mountedi'directly upon the box which encloses the main switch. I intend that the claims shall be in- Tterpreted broadly as they may appear except as maybe required by the state of the art or bythe terms thereof.

I claim:

1. Inra switch an insulating base, cooperating pairs of spaced stationary contacts carried by said base, said base having a transverse channel extending between .the members of each pair of contacts and grooves between the respective pairs of contacts, an 1nsulating cross bar mounted in said channel between the contacts of the respective pairs of contacts, switch members carried by said bar for coacting with the respective pairs of contacts, said bar having insulating fianges between the adjacent switch members and movable in said grooves between the contacts, and means for operating saidbar.

2. A switch including an insulating base, switch contacts carried by the front ofA the base, a carrier at the front of the base, switch members carried by said carrier and adapted to coactwith said contacts, a connector carried by said-carrier, resilient switch contacts carried by the rear of the base and adapted to be engaged by said connector, and a magnet for operating said carrier.

3. An insulating' base having a transverse groove with spaced upper and lower grooves,

. having a transverse channel, supporting side plates, a movable cross bar guided in said` side plates and movable in 'said channel, stationary contacts supported by said base above and below said channel, a guide stud carried by said cross bar, a switch member resiliently mounted on said stud and having a back plate with centrally disposed bosses contacting withthe rear of said switch member and a spring on said stud preing against said back plate.

5. A switch including an insulating base, switch contacts mounted on the frntof said base, circuit terminals for said contacts at theuppery and'lower ends of said base and in a common plane, a switch member movable toward and fromsaid contacts, an auxiliary connector movable with said switch member, contacts mounted at the rear of said base for coactingv with said auxiliary connector, and

imanes I circuit terminals mounted at the rear of said base and accessible from the front of said base and-electricallyv connected with the rear fcontacts. v

6. A switcli' including Vmetal side plates having guide slots, an insulating base mount-v ed between said side plates and having4 a transverse channel, contacts mounted on saidl base at opposite sides of said channel, a cross bar movable in said channel and guided 1n said slots, a switch member carried by said.

cross bar and coacting with said contacts, said base havingj'additional channels at opposite sides of said'iirst mentioned channel, and said cross bar having insulating flanges movable in said channels on opposite sides of said switch member and between said switch member and the side plates. j

7. A switch including metal side plates having guide slots, an insulating base mounted between said side plates and having a transverse groove, contacts mounted' on said baseabove and below said groove, a cross bar movable in said groove. andguided in said slots, a switch member carried-by said cross bar and coacting with said contacts, said base having grooves above andbelow said channel and said cross bar having insulating anges movable insaid grooves on opposite sides of said switch member and between said switch member and the side plates.

-EiLLLiMIN E. GETCHELL. 

